Scenic insect cage



, MUM

' sept. 26, 1939. F; E, AUSTIN 2,174,305

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I I I Jij i El h 'n g lll 1 Sept. 26, 1939. F. EfAusTlN SCENIC INsEcT CAGE Filed 'March 24, 1937 2 Sheets-SheeI 2 8 1 5 s /a mf 5, m f ,y 0 2 o 0 6 2 1 4. :25:52: EE: 400 .E m.. w

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Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNI TED "STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 24,

7 Claims.

The invention relates to a scenic insect cage, or one in which insects may be observed, andpertains especially to `a cage for housing insects of the burrowing type, such as ants, the cage being provided with a filling in which `the ants may v burrow, or form tunnels.

Among the objects of the invention is to proe vide a cage of the above character, `iittedwith means by which the ants maybe betterI observed and controlled; by which they may be cut oii' from certain parts of'the cage, or some-of `the ants be segregated in'apart, or parts, of the cage.

A further object ofthe inventionis to'provide a cage sectional in character Afor containing separate colonies of ants, in order that-the relative movements thereof may'be observed andstudied A still further object is to 'provide a cage which provides for trapping of the ants in a certain section, or sections, of the cage, the number of trapped. ants ina time interval in any action, or sections, of the cage 'affording opportunityfor biological study and experiment.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings in which Fig. l is a front elevation ofthe cage.

Fig. 2 is a back elevation of a portion of the cage.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line A3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a certainstructural `part of the `cage to 'which special reference will laterbe made.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of `another element of the cage to which special attention-will later lbe directed.

Referring to the drawings, the cage comprises a frame consisting of `side bars I and 2, a Abottom bar 3, and a head `bar 4. These bars are connected in any suitable manner, vas by screws 5, to form a substantially rectangular frame. The inner faces of the respective bars are provided with spaced grooves 6 and l, respectively, of `which the grooves 6 lie adjacent thefront'of the cage, and the grooves 'I adjacent its back. Within the grooves 5 of all the frame bars ts a front, or face, panel `8 `made ofglass. `Withinthe grooves 'I in the bottom and side barsof `the "frame fits a back panel 9 which ispreferably of glass, like the panel 3. This back panel does not lextend to the top of the side bars and -head bar, the top edge of the panel lying some appreciable distance removed from the headbar, butpreferably above the middle of the cage.

The chamber I0 betweenlthe twospaced-panels 1937, Serial N0. 132,1788

(Cl. 11S-1) and@ forms a portionof thefenclosure for the ants, and it is within this chamber that the filling is placed. Above this chamber, or space, lbetween the twopanels, the space within the frame which is closed on the front by the panel 8, is left open i5 at the back, and contains a fashioned structure I I, preferably made of wood, which may consist of an integral bar, or combination ofbars, made or fashioned to provide various channels, or cuttings, on its face adjacent the panel ormay be L10 provided with openings through it, as willlater be explained. The structure I I fis generally rectangular in form. In thickness it `has substantn, ally the width of the spacebetween the panels 8 and 9. The structure at its front nts snugly 115 against the panel 8. At its -endsit ts snugly against the side bars ofthe frame between which yit is interposed, and at its top 4snugly against the head bar of theframe. The bottoni of the structure closes the `top ofthe chamber Iii within R20 Vwhichthe liilling'is contained, and assists in the retentionlofthe lling when 'snugly packed within this chamber. The structurel! lis held in place "by spaced strips |12 and i3 secured to the back/thereof. Of these stripsthe top strip I2 is '$15 vmade sufcientlylarger'than that portion-of the structure Il to which vit is secured, to lprovide edgingslM which t, respective1y,-in the Agrooves 'I of 'the `headbar and Iside v'bars fof the Vframe to Which'they lie-adjacent. Likewise,the lower strip `I3() VI3 is `provided with ledgings I4 which fit Within theside-*bars ofthe frame. `In its under edgerthe strip I3 is providedwith agroove I5 which receives the top edge ofthe back panel d.

Preferably the cage'is made sectional in char- `135 acter. In other words, that l portieri of the interior of the cage which contains the ants is divided by Aa central Vpartition bar in order that separate colonies of ants may be contained "in a single cage. In such case, instead of one@ chamber Igwhich ycontains-the filling, there are two chambers I ,the fashioned structure -I lying above each `of thesechambers. It is preferred that the structure I I -may `itself `be made in two partsbetween which thepartition bar i5 is intern L45 posed in order that this barmay `be securely held bythe then two sections ofthe structure ii and by the strips I2 `and I3 on the back which hold the parts together. VWith the cage thus divided each chamber I@ which contains vthe `lling, is '50 provided with its own head structure 'i i in which there may be provided various cuts, channels, ledges, and openings, along `which the ants `may pass, or gather, vas they comeand `goto and from the filling, as it is desired `that each structure I I shall be so fashioned as to afford the best arrangement for exhibiting the ants. Inasmuch as the fashioning of the structures I I is the same for each, a description of one will suflice for the other.

In the rst place it will be observed that the structure II presents a relatively large facing against the front panel 8, and through which panel the facing is seen. On its front face adjacent its bottom edge the structure II is provided with a channel II to which access is had from the chamber I which contains the filling, through a cut I8 at the end of the channel adjacent the panel 8. Above the channel I1, preferably parallel therewith, the structure II is provided on its face with a relatively long deep channel I9 having an upright wall 20 facing the glass and a ledge 2D along the bottom of this wall. The upright wall and ledge present relatively large surface areas on which the ants may gather and along which they may pass. The channels I'I and I9 are connected by a cross cut 2I which faces the front panel, and preferably lies at the end of the channel I'I distant from the cut I8 through which entrance is had to the channel from the chamber I0 containing the filling. 'Ihat portion of the structure II which lies between the channels I`I and I9 on the face thereof, is provided with one or more openings 22 which extend entirely through the structure and are closed by the glass panel 8 at the front, but open at the back. Entrance is had to each opening 22 from the channel I9 by way of a cross cut 23 adjacent the panel or glass 8. The openings 22 are normally closed at the back by a slide 25. on the back of the structure II. The slide is retained by the strips I2 and I3 on the back of the structure, and is movable within ways 25 formed along the edges of these strips on which the slide may be moved for opening or closing the openings 22. Where the cage is made sectional in character, as described, there are two of the slides 24.

When cages containing ants are being shipped, it is desirable that all ants placed in a cage occupy only the compartments in the structure, or structures II, and be kept away from the filling until the cage has arrived at its destination, when access may then be had for the ants to pass to the filling. To this end the cage is provided with a valve or valves 28. This valve consists of a preferably rectangular piece which slides within a way 28 formed within the face of the structure II and is movable up and down therein, and when moved down the lower end of the valve is adapted to extend across and close the channel II, the channel being opened simply by drawing up the valve. The valve is moved up or down by means of a shank 3U which extends upwardly through the head bar 4 of the frame, the end of the shank being accessible outside the frame for opening or closing the valve. The valve fits snugly within its way and will maintain a determinate open or closed position therein by friction. As shown the valve extends across the channel I9 of the structure II but the valve does not close this channel owing to the depth of the channel, the ants being enabled to pass through the channel behind the body of the valve. Each one of the cross cut openings 23 which affords access to the openings 22 from the channel I9 is controlled by a similar valve in order that any opening 22 may be closed from the channel I9, or be opened in relation thereto.

Any suitable means may be provided for admitting air to the interior of the cage. In fact,

sufhcient air will enter the cage around the edges of the panels, or panes, of glass, and structure II Which, while more or less tight within the frame, does not form a seal-forming connection therewith or with the grooves in the frame.

Food and drink are given the ants by means of a feed receptacle 32. This receptacle is located within an offset 33 from the ledge 20 formed in the upright wall 20 to the channel I9, thus lying adjacent the ledge 20 so that the ants will have direct access to the feed receptacle from off this ledge. The feed receptacle is borne by a shank 34 passed down through an opening 35 in the head frame bar 4 and in the structure II above the offset opening 33 which contains the feed receptacle. The shank is held by a handle 36 on its top which bears against the head bar when the feed receptacle is in place.

The cage is provided with a whistle 31 of common type, on the blowing of which the ants are excited into great activity. This whistle is socketed in the handle of the feed cup. The passage through the whistle is in open communication with the interior of the cage by communicating directly with the channel I9 of the structure II through a slit 38 cut in the shank which connects the feed cup to its handle. Thus air and vibrations on blowing the whistle will have direct entry into the channel I9 and interior chambers of the cage.

By means of the Various valves the ants may be segregated, or trapped, in different compartments of the cage.

The openings 22, as they become charged with filling brought in by the ants, may be cleaned by first closing the entrance 23 to the opening to be cleaned and moving the slide 24 to uncover' the back of the opening. For clearing some of the openings 22 it may be necessary to close the entrance to other openings from the channel I9, for the entrances to all openings which are uncovered by the slide should be closed.

The cage is assembled by irst combining the side frame bars I and 2, and bottom bar 3. rIhe panels 8 and 9 are then applied to these bars. The entire structure II, as shown in Fig. 4, is then applied to the cage. The valves are then applied to the structure II. The head bar 4 of the frame is then applied and fixed. The shank handles bearing the feed receptacles are then applied through the openings in the head bar. In this connection it will be noted that the handles bearing the feed receptacles are applied after the frame bars have been combined in order that the feed receptacles may be removed for refilling without undoing the cage in any way.

By the term glass as used herein, and in the appended claims, is meant to include any transparent material which may be employed to form a transparent panel, or face, to the cage, through which the interior thereof may be observed.

I claim:

l. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects and with space therein for containing a filling in which the insects may burrow, and which cage is provided with a glass side on the front thereof, a spaced panel at the back to the space containing the filling, said panel being of lesser height than said glass, a structure arranged above the space containing the filling in upward extension of said back panel and with which structure said panel has closed connection, said structure having in it a number of channels and cuts forming compartments open to the glass and communicating with the space containing the lling, and means other- Wise assisting in the retention of said structure.

2. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects and With space therein for containing a filling in which the insects may burrow, said parts including bottom, side, and head frame bars, a front glass panel maintained by all of said bars, a back panel retained by said bottom bar and side bars and rising to a height less than the height of said glass panel, a structure arranged above the space for containing the filling in face contact with the glass and occupying the space between the top edge of the hack panel and the head bar, said structure having cuts and channels therein open on the glass and in communication With the space containing the lling, and other means assisting in the retention of said structure within the frame bars.

3. In a scenic insect cage having parts including a frame forming an enclosure for containing insects and with space therein for containing a filling in which the insects may burrow, a feed receptacle for the ants insertable through an opening in said frame, a shank to which said feed receptacle is attached, a handle bearing said shank located outside the frame, and a Whistle located within said handle, the inner end of which Whistle is in open communication with the interior of the cage through said shank.

Li. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects with space therein for containing a filling in Which the insects may burrow and provided With a glass side, a structure adjacent the space containing the filling in closed connection therewith, said structure being open to the atmosphere outside the cage at the back and in face engagement with the glass at the front, said structure having in it a number of channels and cuts forming apartments open to the glass and in communication with the space containing the lling, and means for retaining said structure.

5. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects with space therein for containing a lling in which the insects may burrow and provided with a glass side,

a structure adjacent the space containing the filling in closed connection therewith, said structure being open to the atmosphere outside the cage at the back and in face engagement with the glass at the front, said structure having in it cuts open to the glass within which the insects may be contained and including a passage leading to the space containing the lling, valvular means for controlling said passage, and means for retaining said structure.

6. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects with space therein for containing a lling in which the insects may burrow and provided with a glass side, a structure adjacent the space containing the lling in closed connection therewith, said structure being open to the atmosphere outside the cage at the back and in face engagement with the glass at the front, said structure having in it cuts open to the glass in communication with the space containing the filling and including a compartrn ent With opening to the atmosphere through the rear side of said structure, a movable closure to said opening, and means for retaining said structure.

7. In a scenic insect cage having parts forming an enclosure for containing insects with space therein for containing a filling in which the insects may burrow and provided With a glass side, a structure adjacent the space containing the filling in closed engagement therewith and in face engagement with the glass, said structure being open to the atmosphere outside the cage at the back and in face engagement with the glass at the front, said structure having in it cuts open to the glass andin communication with the space containing the lling including an elongated` channel and a series of compartments adjacent said channel but removed from it, each of said compartments being closed by the glass at the front and open to the atmosphere at the back through the rear side of said structure, a movable closure for said compartments, passages leading from said channel to said several compartments, and valvular means for controlling each of said passages.

FRANK EUGENE AUSTIN. 

